The East Quogue Historical Society will soon have a permanent place to showcase its hamlet’s history, and serve as a future meeting location for its members, when it moves into a home on Bay Avenue next year.

Members of the group, who have been operating without a permanent headquarters for the past 13 years, usually hold their monthly meetings at the home of Historical Society President Marilyn Aldrich or group trustee Maria Daddino. Ms. Daddino explained that the group’s new headquarters—known as Bayview House—will enable the organization, established in 1995, to run like other historical groups in Southampton Town.

“It’s been more of a mom and pop operation,” said Ms. Daddino, who writes the East Quogue social column “From Fourth Neck” for The Press. “We never had a place to meet.”

According to members, the East Quogue Historical Society has been seeking a permanent home for several years, but has been unable to find an affordable one. Members eventually approached then Southampton Town Supervisor Patrick Heaney, asking if the town could assist their organization as it had done with other historical groups, such as the one in Hampton Bays.

Town Board members supported the idea and when the town purchased property on Bay Avenue to create a new Maritime Park, they immediately offered part of Bayview House to the East Quogue Historical Society.

The town purchased the property in January 2007 for $2.4 million. Bayview House was purchased for $189,000 with money from the town’s general fund, while the rest of the property was purchased utilizing Community Preservation Fund money. The site includes six small cottages in addition to Bayview House and the area will be used as a park and docking area for local residents.

The town is footing the bill for the restoration of the home, at a cost that has not yet been determined, though the Historical Society will pay for its own utilities, furniture and other furnishings.

Bayview House is estimated to be at least 90 years old. It will be redesigned by Riverhead-based architect Gary Jacquemin, who is donating his services to the Historical Society.

Mr. Jacquemin, who has been an architect for nearly 40 years, explained that the project is still in the preliminary stages, though minor renovations have already begun. “We’ve analyzed the existing structure and have done some very early planning,” he said.

Mr. Jacquemin said he has recently received authorization from the Town Board to proceed to the next level, which will include creating blueprints. It is not clear how much the town will spend on the project because, according Sandra Cirincione, the assistant town management services administrator, a budget has not yet been established.

While the town intends to lease the lower level of the two-story house to the Historical Society, two apartments will be built on the second story and they will be designated as affordable workforce housing for town employees.

Mr. Jacquemin has agreed to donate his services to design the first floor of the 2,700-square-foot house, which will include a conference room as well as space to display exhibits. He was contracted by the town to redesign the second story of the building as well.

An East Quogue resident, Mr. Jacquemin said he decided to donate his services because he knows many of the group’s members and supports their efforts. “It’s going to be wonderful for the Historical Society,” he said. “I’m very thrilled to be working with them.”

To highlight the fact that the first floor of the building will be housing a group whose main focus is to preserve history, Mr. Jacquemin said he will be implementing designs that incorporate historic window patterns. “We’re going to be using some design elements that acknowledge the past,” he said.

The historical status of the home is not clear. Carol Combes, the society’s historian, said it is nearly impossible to know the exact age of the home because of incomplete records. “Almost nothing is recorded,” she said of the building. However, she did estimate that some sections of the house are at least 90 years old.

Group members are now selling raffle tickets to raise money for Bayview House. Raffle tickets are $5 for six tickets and prizes include a large vintage wooden goose decoy, a framed historic map of East Quogue, a handmade vintage tablecloth, framed, historic postcards and a handmade rag-runner rug.

The raffle drawing will take place during the Historical Society’s annual meeting, scheduled for this Friday, September 26, starting at 7 p.m., at the East Quogue Methodist Church. The guest speakers will include Mr. Jacquemin and Town Board member Dan Russo, who also lives East Quogue.

Ms. Daddino said the most exciting aspect of getting an official headquarters is the opportunity to have permanent exhibits and “being able to tell the story of East Quogue.” Meanwhile, Ms. Combes said she is looking forward to having local schoolchildren visit the Historical Society’s future home during field trips.